Nottage Tunnel Deflector Plates

[Andy Kirkham]

I'm wondering what was the purpose of these deflector plates at Nottage tunnel on the Porthcawl branch.

Was there anything similar elsewhere?

 

[mozzer models]

Was it a War thing to diffuse the smoke & hide the line

 

[The Johnster]

According to the John Hodge/Stuart Davies books on the Tondu branches, the tunnel, rock cutting, and the smoke deflector plates, were built to prevent damage to lands owned by The Rt. Hon. Lady Charlotte Guest (famous for translating the Mabinogion into English) and Rev. Henry Knight, arising from smoke and sparks, and date from the use of steam locomotives on the branch south of Pyle in 1861.  
 

I have no idea how effective the deflector plates were, but they probably dealt with containing sparks quite well.  They were steel, and can’t have fared well in the acidic smoke from locomotives. 

[Nick Holliday]

The plates probably helped to reduce corrosion of the old rail that seems to have been used to prop across the opening.

[The Johnster]

Corrosion or not, the structure lasted over a century, 1861 until closure 1963, at least.